Violin shoulder-rest.



1. McLAY.

VIOLIN SHOULDER REST. APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1918.

' Patented Mar. 4,1919.

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. Joni:- M lian: 0,1"'VALLEYFIELDQ. QTIEBEG-, ,QANADA,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN MCLAY, a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, residing at Valleyfield, in the Province of Quebec and Dominion of Canada, have invented new and useful Improvements in Violin Shoulder-Rests, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a violin shoulder rest, and one object is to produce a device which may readily be secured to a violin or other instrument of that general type, and which will be held in proper position by a resiliently mounted clamping member, said device being also provided with means whereby the violin may readily be held in proper position with reference to the shoulder of the individual playing the instrument.

A further object is to provide in connection with a main supporting member provided with a cutaway portion for the purpose of holding the instrument in proper position with reference to the shoulder of the player, a movable clamping member slidable longitudinally with reference to the element first named, and connected therewith by an elastic or resilient device, for the purpose of retaining the member in position on the instrument.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective View.

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation showing the device applied to a violin.

Fig. 3' is a detail in elevation showing another form.

The shoulder rest comprises a main portion or bar designated 10 having at one end thereof an upstanding member 12 provided with a recess or cutaway portion 13 and with a suitable cushioning member 14 and an additional cushioning device such as a strip of felt or fabric designated 15. The upper portion of the member 10 is cut away at 16 and on the upper surface of the cutaway portion there is mounted a slidable member constituting the opposing clamping member and designated 18. This clamping member includes an upstanding device 19 recessed at 20 and provided with cushioning members or the like designated 21 and 22.

Specification of Letters Patent. ippiicafibh am; my 2551 91 Serial m. 236,636

Patented Mar. 4, 1919.

Guides 23 and 24 mounted on the sides of member 10 project slightly above the upper surface of the cutaway portion 16 and permit the longitudinal'movement of the slid able member 18 therebetween.

The lower portion of member 10 is cutaway at 25 and forms a curved recessed portion engaging the shoulder of the player between two downwardly projecting members 26 and 27, member 26 being cutaway on a curved line designated 28, and member 27 being similarly cutaway, if desired on the curved line 29.

The movable clamping member 18 is connected with the main body portion 10 by means of a strip of elastic material, or any suitable resilient device designated 30 for the purpose of permitting the clamping member 18 to be moved outwardly with reference to the stationary element 12 when placing the device in position on the violin. The element 30 may be a band or strip of rubber, although a strip of elastic fabric or a coiled spring will serve the purpose.

It is apparent that in the use of the device the player will be able to move the arm more freely, and it will not be necessary to exert the same degree of pressure by the chin, as is necessary when no shoulder rest or similar device is employed.

In the form shown in Fig. 3 the adjust able clamping member 35 is controlled by means of a screw 36, the outer end of which carries a knurled head 37, and the other end of which extends through an eye member 38, said member last named being engaged by an enlarged portion 39. The operation of this form will be readily understood, and it will be observed that a positive clamping action is secured.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described, a bar provided with means for engaging the shoulder of the player, said bar including an upstanding member at one end thereof for engaging the body portion of a violin at one side thereof, guides carried by the bar, a slidable'me'mber movable between the guides and longitudinally of the bar, means connecting the slidable member with the bar, and an upstanding device on the slidable member for engaging the violin at the opposite side thereof.

2. In a device of the class described, a bar including a cutaway portion adapted to engage theshoulder of a player, saidbar being cutaway longitudinally along 1ts upper edge, guides mounted on the sides of an upstanding member, resilient means eoncopies of this patent may be obtained for neeting the slid'able" 1i11e 11ber1\vitli the bar, and an upstanding member carried by said body at one end thereof for holding a violin 10 or the like between said upstanding member and vthe upstanding member first named.

V In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, .D. 0. 

